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A review by suspensethrill
King of the South by Calia Read
5.0
"The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." -Mark Twain
I'm not sure how Calia Read's work has evaded me until now, but I am SO glad that I stumbled across this title on Kindle Unlimited. Between the witty banter, the slow building, but eventually steamy romance, and the deeply felt insight into the horrors of war and familial expectations, [b:King of the South|43365469|King of the South (Belgrave Dynasty, #1)|Calia Read|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364179l/43365469._SY75_.jpg|67357775] is truly a 6 star read. My only caveat is with myself, as I had no clue that this series is a spinoff of the author's historical time travel series beginning with [b:The Surviving Trace|22289995|The Surviving Trace (Surviving Time, #1)|Calia Read|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400761667l/22289995._SY75_.jpg|41672667], but I will earnestly devour those books as well as soon as physically possible. Based on the epilogue, I'm giddy to learn more about Nathalie, her deceased husband Oliver + family, and her childhood love Asa. Highly, HIGHLY recommended, although it might be wise to start with the above mentioned trilogy, rather than diving directly into this historical fiction that branches off from there.
"Rainey, you have more strength in your pinky finger than most grown men will ever possess. Soon, you'll conquer this pain. You were born to survive this."
"Where is love born from? Does it take a second of direct eye contact? Or is it an accumulation of innocuous moments that start the fire?"
"I'm so sorry for hurting you," he says against my ear. "I love you, Raina. I've loved you for years. Admired you for your quick aim as a girl with your bow and arrow. Applauded your strength when your daddy died. Recognized your beauty when I came home from France. I loved you all along. I've loved you when I didn't know anything else. If you pick a bachelor today, that's fine. I can love you from afar again."
I'm not sure how Calia Read's work has evaded me until now, but I am SO glad that I stumbled across this title on Kindle Unlimited. Between the witty banter, the slow building, but eventually steamy romance, and the deeply felt insight into the horrors of war and familial expectations, [b:King of the South|43365469|King of the South (Belgrave Dynasty, #1)|Calia Read|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364179l/43365469._SY75_.jpg|67357775] is truly a 6 star read. My only caveat is with myself, as I had no clue that this series is a spinoff of the author's historical time travel series beginning with [b:The Surviving Trace|22289995|The Surviving Trace (Surviving Time, #1)|Calia Read|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400761667l/22289995._SY75_.jpg|41672667], but I will earnestly devour those books as well as soon as physically possible. Based on the epilogue, I'm giddy to learn more about Nathalie, her deceased husband Oliver + family, and her childhood love Asa. Highly, HIGHLY recommended, although it might be wise to start with the above mentioned trilogy, rather than diving directly into this historical fiction that branches off from there.
"Rainey, you have more strength in your pinky finger than most grown men will ever possess. Soon, you'll conquer this pain. You were born to survive this."
"Where is love born from? Does it take a second of direct eye contact? Or is it an accumulation of innocuous moments that start the fire?"
"I'm so sorry for hurting you," he says against my ear. "I love you, Raina. I've loved you for years. Admired you for your quick aim as a girl with your bow and arrow. Applauded your strength when your daddy died. Recognized your beauty when I came home from France. I loved you all along. I've loved you when I didn't know anything else. If you pick a bachelor today, that's fine. I can love you from afar again."